Mounting assembly for supporting a depending fixture

ABSTRACT

An electrical mounting assembly includes a box having a top wall and a side wall. The side wall extends downwardly away from the top wall and defines a cavity therein. A dimpled hole is provided in the top wall, and a supplemental fixture support extends into the dimpled hole for engaging at least a portion of the walls thereof. A threaded hole may be provided on the supplemental fixture support. The supplemental fixture support may be a rivet. A rough surface or fluting may be provided on a portion of the supplemental fixture support for engaging the walls of the dimpled hole. Preferably, the supplemental fixture support has exposed portions which are sufficiently smooth for preventing wear to plastic-coated electrical wire which engages such exposed surfaces of the supplemental fixture support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/905,142,filed Aug. 1, 1997, entitled "ELECTRICAL BOX WITH DIMPLED HOLE ANDSUPPORT FOR CRYING FIXTURES", which application claims priority ofapplication Ser. No. 08/862,378, filed May 23, 1997, and applicationSer. No. 08/862,379, filed May 23, 1997, and application Ser. No.60/023,060, filed Aug. 2, 1996, and application Ser. No. 08/490,757,filed Jun. 15, 1995, and application Ser. No. 08/371,695, filed Jan. 12,1995, each of which is incorporated herein by reference; and thisapplication relates to application Ser. No. 08/862,380, filed May 23,1997, entitled "Electrical Box With Auxiliary Supports for CarryingFixtures".

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electrical boxes and methods ofproducing the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Consumers, updated National Electrical Codes (NEC), and UnderwriterLaboratories (UL) requirements all require that electrical boxes be madestronger than in the prior art.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of knownelectrical boxes.

A further object of the invention includes making electrical boxes whichuse the standard punched-out, stamped electrical boxes in a moreintelligent fashion.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a standard industrysize electrical box with a supplemental support for supporting afixture, and that is located the proper distance from a secondsupplemental support, and meets National Electrical Code (NEC)standards.

Another object of the invention is to fully exploit the strength offixture support studs, the top wall, and the side walls of electricalboxes.

Another object of the invention is to achieve a strengthened electricalbox with a supplemental support within a standard so-called "4×4" box,while maintaining the near universal 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) spacing betweenthe fixture supports so that the box is usable with standard lightfixtures, ceiling fans, and the like.

It is likewise an object of the invention to provide supplemental metalinserts in and/or on the electrical boxes to enhance the carryingstrength of the electrical boxes.

A further object of the invention is to provide studs in the electricalboxes that strengthen the electrical boxes.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide studs in theelectrical boxes which cover the threads of standard screws so that noscrew threads are present in the interior of such electrical boxes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electrical boxhaving a supplemental support with a sufficiently smooth exterior forpreventing wear to the plastic coating of plastic-coated electricalwire.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide electrical boxes inwhich added supports, such as studs, are added during the manufacturingprocess to eliminate problems in prior art electrical boxes, as well asto strengthen the inventive electrical boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a junction box having asupplemental support, yet which requires no screwing of fasteners norwelding during assembly thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an electrical boxhaving components which are easily fabricated, added to the electricalbox, and assembled in the final form by the operation of pressing orriveting, yet which do not loosen when subjected to static and/ordynamic loading.

Another object of the invention is to provide a junction box engineeredand configured so that a single fixture support/junction box supportcombination fastener can carry both an electrical fixture and thejunction box, as well as attach the junction box to a support.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a junction box inwhich the supplemental support for carrying static and dynamic loadsautomatically extends in the desired direction along the side walls ofthe junction box during assembly and/or in use thanks to the use of adimpled hole in the top wall thereof and/or thanks to the auxiliarysupport being configured for engaging the dimpled hole when theauxiliary support is attached and located in its attached, final formready for use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a junction boxcapable of carrying static and/or dynamic loads that has an auxiliarysupport and that is assembled with fewer parts and with fewer steps thanknown devices.

It is a yet further object that all the above be carried out with anelectrical box which carries the load of supported static and dynamicfixtures better than known electrical boxes.

In summary, the present invention is directed to an electrical junctionbox or mounting assembly which includes a box having a top wall and aside wall. The side wall extends downwardly away from the top wall anddefines a cavity therein. A supplemental fixture support is disposed inthe cavity. A dimpled hole is provided in the top wall, and thesupplemental fixture support extends into the dimpled hole for engagingat least a portion of the walls thereof. A threaded hole may be providedon the supplemental fixture support. The supplemental fixture supportmay be a rivet. A rough surface or fluting may be provided on a portionof said support for engaging the walls of the dimpled hole. Preferably,the supplemental fixture support has exposed portions which aresufficiently smooth for preventing wear to plastic-coated electricalwire which engages such exposed surfaces of the fixture support.

These objects and advantages as well as others will be readily apparentfrom a review of the following description and drawings.

The drawings show a variety of embodiments of the invention, as will beclear from reading the description below.

It is important to note that the use of relative terms such as "up" and"down", and "left" and "right" is for convenience only and is notintended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a PRIOR ART electrical junction boxhaving an inwardly extending ear E with a faceplate plate attachmenthole F provided therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of anelectrical junction box according to the invention having dimpledpunchouts in a top wall thereof, with the addition of a supplementalsupport, and with a supplemental support not yet installed;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, of a still furtherpreferred embodiment of a junction box according to the invention thathas four (4) supplemental supports;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the box of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of ajunction box according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of the support ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of ajunction box according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the threaded dimple of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 8 of yet anotherpreferred embodiment of a junction box according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

FIG. 1 shows a PRIOR ART junction box including a side wall S, an upperwall U, and an ear E extending from a lower portion L thereof.

Upper wall U has one or more attachment holes A through which fastenerswill be inserted for attaching PRIOR ART electrical box B to an overheadsurface, such as to a ceiling joist or piece of plywood extendingtherebetween.

A lower, faceplate attachment hole F is typically provided in inwardlyextending ear E. Frequently, faceplate hole F is provided with threadsfor mating with respective faceplate fasteners when securing anunillustrated faceplate thereto. Such faceplates are used to encloseelectrical box B after the wiring inside the electrical box/junction boxB has been completed.

A drawback of such PRIOR ART electrical boxes E is that they aretypically made with stamped sheet metal extensions E; consequently,extensions E are relatively thin (i.e., in the order of about 1millimeter or less). Such extension or ear E has a width of only a fewmillimeters, and only extends several millimeters inside box B. Thus,the surface area of ear E, when viewed from below after installation ofupper wall U against a typical horizontal ceiling, is oftensubstantially less than one centimeter squared (1 cm²).

Consequently, ear E may only carry relatively small vertical loads, wheninstalled against the ceiling, as described above.

As a result, local codes frequently allow such PRIOR ART boxes B to beused only for supporting the weight of a faceplate, or of a relativelylight static or dynamic load, such as a light fixture or fan weighing 35lbs. or less.

Such electrical boxes B are unsuited for supporting large static loads,as well as for supporting large dynamic loads, such as ceiling fanswhich may weigh fifty-five pounds (55 lbs.)/twenty-five kilograms ormore (25 kg).

Thus, there is a need for an electrical box which is suited for carryingrelatively large static loads as well as dynamic loads.

That need is especially clear, given that many homeowners want toinstall heavier light fixtures and dynamic loads, such as ceiling fans,than had exhibited such preferences in the past.

Furthermore, even if the initial owner/builder of a house or commercialspace provides PRIOR ART load-carrying junction boxes B suited forcarrying the vertical force of a small light fixture, a subsequentowner/user will often replace the original light fixture with a heavierlight fixture, or with a dynamic load; i.e. a ceiling fan.

Accordingly, there is a need for a load-carrying junction box which issuited for a wide range of static and dynamic loads and, thus, suitedfor original installation in new construction, given that some usersfail to upgrade load-carrying junction boxes when adding heavier staticand/or dynamic loads to the box.

The electrical box according to the invention has overcome thesedrawbacks described immediately above, and has achieved the objects ofthe invention detailed above. Such will be evident when reading thefollowing detailed description of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first preferred embodiment of an electricalbox and/or junction box 10 according to the invention will now bedescribed in detail.

Junction box 10 includes a top wall 14, and a side wall 18 extendingdownwardly therefrom and defining a cavity C therein. Side wall 18includes a lower free edge 20, and top wall 14 includes a lower face 22and an upper face 26.

Preferably, one or more dimpled holes 24 are provided on top wall 14,for example.

Additional holes 36 for receiving portions of an electrical fixture, forexample, and/or for fasteners which secure junction box 10 to a ceiling,for example, may likewise be provided.

FIG. 2 illustrates a supplemental support 40 which may be provided forincreasing the holding strength of junction box 10. Support 40 on theleft of FIG. 2 is installed, and the other support 40 is shown as itwill typically be installed by downward insertion through top wall 14.

Supplemental support 40 may be made with a height substantially equal tothe distance between lower free edge 20 and lower face 22 of top wall14.

When increased resistance to inadvertent turning of supplemental support40 about the longitudinal axis of fastener 32 is desired, supplementalsupport 40 may be provided with an outer surface or face 44 configuredfor engaging with a portion of dimpled hole 24 for restricting rotationof supplemental support 40. As shown in FIG. 2, configured face 44 maybe made as a rough or knurled surface.

The non-configured exterior face of support 40 may be made as a roundedsurface 48, as shown. Good results have been achieved with individualflutes 46 which define fluting or fluted portion or roughened surface44. Good results have been achieved when flutes 46 extend outwardly ofrounded/relatively smooth surface 48.

In one embodiment, fifteen (15) to twenty (20) flutes were used onsupplemental support 40 having a nominal diameter of 0.25 inches (6.35mm). There may be as few as one (1) to fourteen (14) flutes 46,depending on the flute length and the intended use of the standard 4"box.

Good results have been achieved when a threaded hole 52 is providedextending at least partially through supplemental support 40.Preferably, threaded hole 52 has threads selected to mate with those offasteners of electrical fixtures such as lights and ceiling fans.Typically, threads 52 are provided at at least a lower portion 60 ofsupport 40.

Supplemental support 40 may be attached to box 14 by use of a poweredtool driving (e.g., pressing or riveting) support 40 into hole 24.

The threads of threaded hole 52 may extend substantially the entirelength through support 40, so that fasteners of various lengths forattaching a light fixture or ceiling fan, for example, may be attachedto supplemental support 40 and, hence, to electrical box 10, from belowduring use.

It is likewise contemplated that threads 52 will only be provided at thetop portion of support 40, at the bottom portion of support 40, or atboth top and bottom portions with an unthreaded region in between.

Still further, as shown in junction box 50 of FIGS. 4 and 5, it isexpected that multiple supports having different threads 52 for matingwith various fasteners will be provided. For example, four (4) supportsmay be provided, two (2) of which are supports 40 placed on oppositesides of box 10, and the other two (2) of which are supports 51 placedon different opposed sides of box 10. Then, the one (1) pair of supports40 is provided with threads 52, sized for mating with light fixturefasteners, and the other pair of supports 41 being provided with threads53 of a different size than the threads of the first pair for matingwith the fasteners which attach a typical ceiling fan to the lowerportion of support 90 when in use.

Supports 40 and/or 51 may have a variety of external configurations aswell, such as being a full, cylindrical shape with no roughened surface44, a hexagonal supplemental support 40, a triangular supplementalsupport 40, and other configurations which achieve the objects of theinvention.

Good results have been achieved when dimpled hole 24 has a wall 58 whichextends outwardly away from top wall 14 of box 10. For example, wall 58may extend upwardly, away from the outer surface or upper face 26 of topwall 14.

Alternatively, as shown, wall 58 may extend downwardly into cavity C.the height (i.e., downwardly extending length of wall 58) extendssufficiently into cavity C for securing support 40 sufficiently,depending on the intended use. In that manner, support 40 may be securedby top wall 14 and side wall 58, so that side wall 58 also assists inprevention of movement of support 40 that might lead to a loosening ofthe connection between support 40 and top wall 14, and, hence,undesirable loosening of the support 40 relative to box 10. Thatconnection preferably should at least be sufficiently secure so thatsupport 40 does not loosen during shipment and installation of box 10.

When two supports 40 are attached to the left and right ones of holes36, placement of support 40 substantially adjacent side wall 18 yieldsthe added benefit of achieving a standard center-to-center spacingbetween respective threads 52 of each of the two supports 40, even whenusing "standard" box forming equipment for making a standard box size,as discussed in greater detail below. Such also has the benefit ofallowing use of standard equipment for forming holes in a sheetrockceiling for receiving box 10, ,while maintaining the standard 3.5 inchfixture fastener offset.

It will be appreciated that there are advantages in restricting thetendency of support 40 to move within a vertical plane. Such restrictionhelps maintain the integrity of the initial connection between support40 and junction box 10; e.g., the connection between both top wall 14and support 40, and between both side wall 58 and support 40.

Still further, restricting such tendency of support 40 to rotate withina vertical plane helps to ensure that support 40 (and threads 52) extendsubstantially parallel to side wall 18 of junction box 10 before andduring use. Needless to say, all those aspects of fine-tuning of theconnection between support 40 and the remainder of junction box 10 aregeared for achieving predictability of where lower portion 60 of support40 is.

Head 64 of support 40 likewise assists in locating support 40 relativeto box 10 and in restricting movement relative thereto. Head 64 may beprovided with a diameter of 0.375 inches (9.525 mil) when a body 68 hasa diameter of 0.25 inches (6.35 mm).

Needless to say, the disclosed connections and configurations act torestrict all movements between support 40 and the remainder of box 10.The above discussion regarding restriction of movement within a"vertical" plane is merely an example.

By restricting movement of support 40, there is achieved the desiredpredictability of where the lower portion of female thread 52 is locatedso that the desired spacing between a left hand one of supplementalsupport 40 and a right hand one of supplemental support 40 is achieved.Typically, the spacing between the commonly provided two (2) femalethreads 52 (i.e., left and right ones) attached to and extending fromleft and right ones of supports 40 as shown in broken-away portion ofFIG. 2 will be achieved. Known light fixtures, for example, are providedwith respective left and right male fasteners, three and one half (31/2)inches on center, which will be mated with such left and right femalethreads 52, during final use of the illustrated junction boxes.

All the advantages described regarding the stabilizing of and thelocation of threads 52 and, hence, supplemental support 40, relative tothe remainder of junction box 10 hold true for all the other preferredembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows another preferred embodiment of a junction box 90 accordingto the invention.

Junction box 90 includes a piece of double-sided tape 94 on top wall 14thereof. Double-sided tape 94 may be provided with a protective strip orlayer 98 on the outer face thereof, i.e., on the face of double-sidedtape 94 that has not been adhered to junction box 90. Conventionaldouble-sided tape 94 may be used.

Alternative means for adhering junction box 90 to a surface may be used,such as spray-on adhesive, a piece of putty and other adhering means.Each of those adhering means is as described in my earlier U.S. patentapplication No. 08/490,757, filed Jun. 15, 1995, and No. 08/371,695,filed Jan. 12, 1995, each of which is incorporated herein by reference,and may be utilized in conjunction with or instead of the double-sidedtape 94.

One of the many advantages of junction box 90 is that the user mayremove protective layer 98, and then adhere double-sided tape 94 to thesurface to which junction box 90 is to be attached. Double-sided tape isselected and sized so that sufficient holding power for temporarilyadhering or affixing junction box 94 to the surface is achieved, whilethe user has both hands free for permanently attaching junction box 90in the desired location by hammering nails (or shooting screws) throughone or more holes 36.

Preferably, the adhesive is sufficiently strong to adhere box 90 to ahorizontal surface located above the user's head, and for a sufficientlylong period of time so that the user may release box 90 after adheringbox 90 to a ceiling or wall, locate a fastener (e.g., nail or screw) andstill have enough adhering time left to use both of hiss or her hands toinstall the fastener by hammering, screwing, or the like.

The thickness of double-sided tape 94 is coordinated with the thickness(i.e., height) of a head 64 of support 40, so head 64 of support 40 doesnot interfere with adherence of tape 94 to a support. Alternatively, thethickness of tape 94 is coordinated with the height of an unillustratedoutwardly extending side wall 58 of dimpled hole 24 so that eachperforms its intended function, when junction box 90 is provided with anunillustrated outwardly extending side wall 58, for example.

In addition, it is contemplated that the thickness of tape 94 will bevaried depending on the characteristics of the surface of the materialto which junction box 90 is to be adhered.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exaggerated cross-sectional view of the extensions150 of knurled portion 44 of support 40.

Opening or punchout 24 for receiving supports 40 and/or 51 may beconstructed as described above.

During assembly of junction box 10 and/or 50, support 40 and/or 51 maybe inserted through and dimpled holes 24.

The following applies to use of supports 40 and 51.

After support 40 is inserted through holes 24 then support 40 is grippedand/or compressed in a standard fashion so as to join top wall 14 andsupport 40.

During insertion of support 40, extensions 150 engage and cut into thesides of one or both of apertures 24 for restricting movement of support40 after final assembly thereof. In use, junction box 40 is attached tothe desired surface by inserting fasteners through holes 36. Then, theceiling fan or light fixture is attached by use of fasteners, which willtypically be provided with the ceiling fan to be attached. Such fixturefasteners are by screwing such fasteners into threaded hole 52 in theusual manner.

It is likewise contemplated that at least one washer or reinforcementplate may be provided adjacent top wall 14 and aligned with hole 24.Such a washer would include an aperture through which support 40 wouldextend when assembled.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a further preferred embodiment of a junctionbox 100 according to the invention.

Box 100 includes a dimple 108 extending downwardly from top wall 14.Dimple 108 may include internal threads 112 thereon. It is alsocontemplated that dimple 108 be free of threads, such as dimpled hole 24of FIG. 2.

A fixture support 120 includes a fixture fastener 122 having a shankportion 124 substantially free of threads, and which extends through anunthreaded hole 126. Threads 128 may be provided on fixture fastener 122for mating with threads 112 of dimple 108. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view ofdimple 108.

Hole 126 may be made with threads. Typically, hole 126 will beunthreaded so that fastener shank 124 passes readily therethrough andbecause it is not necessary that there be threads on the portion ofshank 124 adjacent a head 130 of fastener 122.

Double-sided tape 94, as described above, may be provided fortemporarily adhering box 100 to a support surface, as discussed indetail regarding FIG. 6 above. Protective layer 98 is shown partiallypeeled away just prior to use.

It will be seen that the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 have realized theobject of the invention to provide a junction box having a fixturefastener which supports box 100, a fixture attached thereto, and securesboth box 100 and attached fixture to a support, such as a ceiling joist.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further preferred embodiment of a junction box 150according to the invention.

Junction box 150 includes a fixture support 120 as described aboveregarding FIG. 8.

A threaded hole 158 may be provided in top wall 14. The differencebetween box 150 of FIG. 10 and box 100 of FIG. 8 is that box 150 has nodimple.

It is likewise contemplated that hole 158 be made free of threadsdepending on the intended use.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 achieves that same objects as the embodimentof FIG. 8, in an even more simplified version thereof; i.e., no dimple108 is required.

As to supplemental supports, such as the illustrated supports 40 and 51,it is likewise contemplated that such supplemental supports will havefully round cylindrical shapes, hexagonal-shapes, square shapes, shapeswhich are tapered at an upper portion thereof (i.e., shapes that havethe appearance of truncated cones, and truncated pyramids. In addition,frustrums of pyramids and the other shapes are contemplated withtruncation taken at various angles (when installed) relative to theinner face 22 of top wall 14.

Good results have been achieved when dimpled hole 24 are made in amulti-step process using a progression die.

In such case, no material is initially removed from top wall 14 bydrilling or punching. Rather, a progression die is pressed into uppersurface 26 of top wall 14 and then out through lower surface 22, whenforming the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, for example.

The progression die is inserted so that a first punchout or hole havinga first diameter is formed, the progression die is retracted and thenreinserted further so as to form a hole having a second diameter largerthan the first diameter. Then, the progression die is retracted a secondtime, and inserted a third time, forming the desired final thirddiameter greater than the second diameter.

In that manner, the hole 24 can be made with the desired height of wall58. In the present case, where the final diameter has been described asbeing, for example, one quarter inch in diameter to mate with the onequarter inch diameter stud or support 40, the progression die wouldinitially form a hole having a diameter of about one-sixteenth inch, andform the second diameter with a diameter of about one-eighth inch, andthen form the third and final diameter with the desired one quarter inchnominal diameter.

It will be appreciated that the progression die may be a singleprogression die, or a series of two or three progression dies. Dependingon the intended use, it will be appreciated that material may beremoved, such as by drilling and the like, prior to use of a progressiondie.

It is also contemplated that for intended uses where relatively largestatic and dynamic forces are expected, fewer knurlings/flutes eachextending outwardly of support 40 generally resist such forces betterthan more knurlings having a shorter length extending past the remainderof stud 40 for similar applications.

In addition to or instead of the supports and/or studs used in theembodiments of FIGS. 1-10, it is expected that locking coupling nutswill be used to attach supplemental supports to the junction box, aswell as any other means of fastening supplemental supports to thejunction box in a sufficiently secure manner so as to achieve theobjects of the invention.

It will be appreciated that these are merely examples of solutions tothe problems set forth in my accompanying drawings and description, and,taken in its entirety, it will be appreciated that all the above objectsof the invention, as well as many others, have been fulfilled.

It will likewise be appreciated that all the components described in theforegoing can be made of a variety of materials, such as steel, zinc,nylon, and other plastics, as the producer and user demand.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, itis understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/oradaptations following in general the principle of the invention andincluding such departures from the present disclosures as come withinknown or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains,and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fallwithin the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A mounting assembly for supporting a fixture, said mountingassembly comprising in combination:(a) a box including a top wall and asidewall for defining a cavity; (b) at least one dimpled hole disposedin said top wall; (c) at least one supplemental support having a shankpenetrably extending through a respective one of said dimpled holes intothe cavity, each of said dimpled holes being dimensioned to grip saidshank to restrain rotation of said supplemental support; and (d) each ofsaid supplemental supports including means for engaging the fixture tobe supported.
 2. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid engaging means comprises threads.
 3. The mounting assembly as setforth in claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises a threaded holedisposed at an end of said supplemental support.
 4. The mountingassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said shank includesknurling for engaging with the respective one of said dimpled holes. 5.The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least the majorportion of each of said shanks disposed within the cavity is smoothsurfaced.
 6. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein eachof said supplemental supports includes a head disposed adjacent said topwall and of a size greater than the diameter of the respective one ofsaid dimpled holes to prevent passage of said head through therespective one of said dimpled holes.
 7. The mounting assembly as setforth in claim 1 wherein said top wall includes means for accommodatingattachment of said mounting assembly to a surface.
 8. The mountingassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supplemental supportincludes a fluted section for frictionally engaging the respective oneof said dimpled holes.
 9. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 1including a layer of adhesive adjacent said top wall for temporarilysecuring said mounting assembly to a surface.
 10. The mounting assemblyas set forth in claim 9 wherein said a layer of adhesive includes asection of double-sided tape.
 11. The mounting assembly as set forth inclaim 1 including a pair of said dimpled holes disposed at opposed partsof said top wall.
 12. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 11including a further pair of said dimpled holes disposed at opposed partsof said top wall.
 13. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 12wherein each of said dimpled holes is in one quadrant of said top wall.14. A mounting assembly for supporting a fixture, said mounting assemblycomprising in combination:(a) a box including a top wall and a side wallfor defining a cavity; (b) at least one threaded hole disposed in saidtop wall; (c) at least one apertured fixture support extending inwardlyfrom said side wall; (d) at least one fixture fastener penetrablyengaging one of said apertured fixture supports and into threadedengagement with one of said holes for fastening a fixture to saidmounting assembly.
 15. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 14wherein said hole is a dimpled threaded hole.
 16. The mounting assemblyas set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said apertured fixture supportsis disposed at an edge of said side wall away from said top wall. 17.The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 14 including a pair of saidthreaded holes, a pair of said apertured fixture supports and a pair ofsaid fixture fasteners for providing two locations of support for thefixture.
 18. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein eachof said threaded holes is a dimpled threaded hole.
 19. The mountingassembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said fixture fastenersincludes a shank having a smooth surface and a threaded end for engagingthe respective one of said threaded holes.
 20. The mounting assembly asset forth in claim 19 wherein each of said fixture fasteners includes ahead for drawing the fixture toward said mounting assembly upon threadedengagement of said fixture fastener with said threaded hole.
 21. Themounting assembly as set forth in claim 14 including a layer of adhesiveadjacent said top wall for temporarily securing said mounting assemblyto a surface.
 22. The mounting assembly as set forth in claim 21 whereinsaid layer of adhesive includes a section of double-sided tape.